Luxurious Rivière Necklace with 38.50 ct Brilliant-Cut Diamonds in White Gold & Platinum, c. 1990

Stellar Constellation

Luxurious Rivière Necklace with 38.50 ct Brilliant-Cut Diamonds in White Gold & Platinum, c. 1990

€ 251,900.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

Rivières are classics of diamond jewellery. Their name comes from the French word for “river”, a reference to the gently flowing lines of this jewellery type. Sparkling diamond rivières were considered the pinnacle of jewellery – especially during the Belle Époque, as there was scarcely a lady of the high nobility or the wealthiest industrialist families who did not own such a piece. Young women usually came into possession of a diamond rivière, as well as other particularly exquisite pieces of jewellery, upon their marriage. The rivière presented here follows this tradition– yet it was created some 100 years later, around 1990. In between lay the hard-won right to vote for women and the beginning of a long period of social change. By the end of the 20th century, a woman’s marital status no longer determined whether she was socially permitted to wear a diamond rivière or other exquisite jewellery. Gifted pieces of jewellery were now, just like the tailored suit, an indispensable element of power dressing. As if to pay tribute to this new era, the classic Rivière also appears here in a new guise: rooted in history, yet modern, minimalist, almost deconstructed. Thirty-four carefully selected natural diamonds in modern full cuts are strung in platinum settings to form a dazzling stream of light reflections. The brilliant-cut diamonds weigh a total of approximately 38.50 ct. Yet the necklace does not appear heavy: slender white gold wires connect the individual diamonds in their nearly invisible prong settings, giving the Rivière a surprisingly light appearance reminiscent of a constellation. The historical references are subtle and refined. The delicate wires, which appear almost vanishingly narrow when viewed from above, derive their stability from their depth: this technique, also known as “knife wires,” first emerged in the last third of the 19th century to showcase select diamonds against the most minimalist metalwork possible. The largest, central brilliant-cut diamond conceals a hidden bail behind its setting for an interchangeable pendant, just like the magnificent rivières worn by the grandes dames of the Belle Époque. We were able to acquire this luxurious rivière from an important German private collection which was largely assembled during the last two decades of the 20th century. It is in excellent condition and comes with an independent gemmological report.

Size & Details

Stellar Constellation

€ 251,900.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

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